Posted: November 11, 2014 12:03 PM - 11908 Hits
Round 6 - 2014 Midlands East Rally Championship
Posted: November 11, 2014 12:03 PM
The Cavan crew of Chris Armstrong and James Fulton have won the Garda Siochana Motor Club’s 2014 Germaines of Baltinglass Mini Stages Rally, in their Mk2 Ford Escort RS. They had gone into the final Killelan stage, near Moone, thirteen seconds ahead of their closest challengers, Richard Moffett and Martin Connolly, and emerged from the test with the advantage cut to nine seconds, but it was enough to secure victory. It had so nearly slipped away however, as they overshot a junction near the end of the stage, but recovered sufficiently to limit the time loss to just three or four seconds.
Monaghan men, Moffett and Connolly, winners of this event last year, were fastest over the final stage, as they had been on the first, but with the engine of their Toyota Starlet somewhat down on its usual power output during the day , the result was perhaps the best the could have hoped for.
Mike Quinn and Tony Healy, runners-up in Baltinglass in 2013, were third on this occasion in their Escort, slightly away from the pace of the leading duo, but comfortably ahead of the chasing pack. The Kerry crew finished the rally forty seconds behind Moffett and Connolly.
The battle for fourth place was decided in favour of the BMW M3 crew of Jack Newman (Ashbourne) and JP McAree (Cavan), who had just two seconds in hand over Aaron McHale/Paul McGee (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9) at the finish. Anthony O’Halloran/Charlie McEnery (Opel Manta) overhauled Barry Kiernan/Mac Kenna (Ford Escort RS) for sixth position on the final stage, taking the place by just one second, while Sam and Alan Smyth (Ford Escort RS) were a mere three seconds further behind in eighth.
Rodney White, who finished just outside the top ten in his Talbot Sunbeam, appears to have done enough to wrap up the 2014 Loughran Signs Midlands East Rally Championship, of which the Germaines of Baltinglass GSMC Mini Stages Rally was the final round.
Posted: November 11, 2014 11:56 AM
1 Chris Armstrong/James Fulton (Ford Escort MkII) 38m 05s,
2 Richard Moffett/Martin Connolly (Toyota Starlet RWD) 38m 14s,
3 Mike Quinn/Tony Healy (Ford Escort kII) 38m 54s,
4 Jack Newman/J P McAree (Ford Escort MkII) 39m 11s,
5 Aaron MacHale/Paul McGee (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9 Gp N) 39m 13s,
6 Anthony O'Halloran/Charlie McEnery (Open Manta) 39m 35s,
7 Barry McKenna/Mac Kiernan (Ford Escort MkII) 39m 36s,
8 Sam Smyth/Alan Smyth (Ford Escort Mk II) 39m 39s,
9 Graham Scallan/Jim Scallan (Subaru Impreza N14 Gp N) 39m 45s.
10 David Leonard/Darragh Mullen (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo) 39m 52s.
Leaders After:
SS1 Richard Moffett/Martin Connolly (Toyota Starlet RWD)
SS2-6 Chris Armstrong/James Fulton (Ford Escort MkII)
Stage Winners
SS1 Richard Moffett/Martin Connolly (Toyota Starlet RWD)
SS2 Chris Armstrong/James Fulton (Ford Escort MkII)
SS3 Chris Armstrong/James Fulton (Ford Escort MkII)
SS4 Chris Armstrong/James Fulton (Ford Escort MkII)
SS5 Cancelled
SS6 Richard Moffett/Martin Connolly (Toyota Starlet RWD)
Posted: October 17, 2014 10:56 AM
The Garda Siochana Motor Club’s Germaines of Baltinglass Mini Stages Rally, which takes place this Sunday, October 19th, has attracted a quality field of over one hundred crews, which will be lead away by the No. 1 seeds and winners of last year’s event, Richard Moffett and Martin Connolly. They will use the same two-litre Toyota Starlet which carried them to a hard-fought victory twelve months ago. The second seed will be another former Baltinglass winner, James Stafford, who will be guided by Frank Dwyer in their potent Darrian T90 GTR.
Next over the Start Line will be the Kerry crew of Mike Quinn and Tony Healy in a 2.5 Ford Escort, runners-up on the 2013 event. Having lost out on victory by just three seconds on that occasion, their return to Baltinglass is bound to have added significance for them.
Also among the top ten seeds are Limerick driver, Ed O’Callaghan (Ford Escort), Carlow brothers George and David Condell (Toyota Starlet and Ford Escort 2.5 respectively), Monaghan’s Jim McKenna (Escort) and rapid Virginia youngster, Chris Armstrong (Escort).
If the weather turns wet on Sunday, the four wheel drive Mitsubishis of Stephen McCann, the 2014 Irish Tarmac Championship Group N runner up, and former National Rally Champion, Aaron McHale (of the famous Rathcoole rallying dynasty), may well come to the fore.
The Germaines of Baltinglass Mini Stages Rally 2014 will be the sixth and final round of the LoughranSigns.com Midlands East Rally Championship, which will be fought out between Rodney White (Talbot Sunbeam), James Cassidy (Ford Escort) and Pat Shorthall (Ford Escort).
The first stage of the rally will get under way just after 11am on Sunday morning. The route will consist of three loops of the Brewel Hill and Killelan tests in east Kildare. Service, after stages 1, 3 and 5, will be based in Crookstown village. The winning crew is due at the Finish in Baltinglass at 5.30pm.
Posted: October 13, 2014 11:02 AM
No Driver/Navigator (Car) [Class]
1 Richard Moffett/Martin Connolly (Toyota Starlet RWD) [13]
2 James Stafford/Frank Dwyer (Darian T90 GTR) [14]
3 Mike Quinn/Tony Healy (Ford Escort MK2) [14]
4 Ed O'Callaghan/Ger Clancy (Ford Escort MK2) [13]
5 George Condell/Paul Twomey (Toyota Starlet RWD) [13]
6 Stephen McCann/Breanard, McNannee (Mitsubshi Lancer Evo 9) [20]
7 David Condell/Eugene MCGrath (Ford Escort MK2) [14]
8 Jim Mckenna/Thomas Tutty (Ford Escort MK2) [14]
9 Chris Armstrong /James Fulton (Ford Escort MK2) [13]
10 Aaron McHale/Paul McGee (Mitsubshi Lancer Evo 9) [20]
11 Jason Mc Sweeney/Martin Brady (Mitsubshi Lancer Evo 9) [20]
12 David Leonard/Darragh Mullen (Mitsubshi Lancer Evo) [20]
14 Rodney White/Sam McMullen (Talbot Sunbeam) [13]
15 John Hendy/Alan Whyte (BMW M3) [14]
16 Ed Synan/Denis O'Connell (Ford Escort MK2) [14]
17 Alister Fingleton/Debbie Fingleton (Ford Escort Mk2) [13]
18 Barry McKenna/Mac Kiernan (Ford Escort) [13]
19 Graham Scallan /Jim Scallan (Subaru Impreza) [4]
20 Frank Sweeney/Jane Coogan (Ford Escort Mk2) [13]
21 James Cassidy/Declan Smith (Ford Escort Mk2) [13]
22 Jason Roche/John McCarthy (Ford Escort) [13]
23 John Lynch/Nicky Hegarty (Ford Escort) [13]
24 Larry Brady/Benny Dowling (Ford Escort) [14]
25 Shane Coogan /Noel Coogan (Ford Escort G3) [14]
26 Llyod Hutchinson/Willie Fitzpatrick (Austin Cooper) [9]
27 Seamus Doyle/Kevin Barry (Ford Escort) [13]
28 Terence O'Shaughey/Colin O'Toole (Toyota Corolla) [11]
29 Russell Daage/Trevor Culbert (Ford Escort ) [14]
30 Jack Newman/JP Mcree (Ford Escort) [13]
31 Pa Bellew /Michaella McGinn (Ford Escort) [11R]
32 Mike Brazil/Ray Fitzpatrick (Peugeot 205) [11R]
33 Dave Murphy/Sean Hegarty (Ford Escort MK2) [14]
34 Tom Relihan/Maurice McElligot (Ford Escort Mk 1 ) [13]
35 Daniel Gorman/Nigel Moody (Ford Escort Mk2) [13]
36 Gene Callan/Sean Brunton (Ford Escort Mk2) [9]
37 Benny Kennedy/John Kidanad (Ford Escort MK2) [13]
38 Paul Doyle/Bob Nolan (Ford Escort) [12]
39 Leo Doyle/Gordon Manley (Ford Escort MK 1) [12]
40 Pat Lee/Eamonn Nolan (Ford Escort MK2) [11]
41 Thomas Lynch/Mark Kirwan (Honda Civic) [11F]
42 Enda McLoughlin/Colin Duffy (Ford Escort MK2) [13]
43 Alan Barry/Peter Brady (Ford Escort) [11]
44 Aaron Martly/Cathal Martly (Toyota Corolla) [11]
45 John Forde/Eamonn Bates (Peugeot 205) [11]
46 Eamonn Oconnell/Mark Linehan (Honda Civic) [11F]
47 Martin Lordan/TBA (Ford Escort Mk2) [9]
48 Pat O'Connor/Kieran Reid (Toyota Celica GT4) [15]
49 Pauric Sheridan/Alan Kiernan (Ford Escort Cosworth) [20]
50 Paul Milann/Mosie Milann (Ford Escort Cosworth) [15]
51 Jack Deegan /Aiden Perse (Peugeot 205) [13]
52 Henry Talt/Paul Dixton (Peugeot 205) [10]
53 Mark Greene /Gary Fitzpatrick (Peugeot 205) [10]
54 John Badge/J.P Ruth (Peugeot GTI) [10]
55 Tom Holton/TBA (Honda Civic) [16]
56 Dave Hughes/Denise Rowan (Honda Civic) [16]
57 Andrew Leacy/Joe O'Brien (Toyota Corolla) [11R]
58 Declan Byrne/Gary Deegan (Honda Civic) [6]
59 Paul O'Connell/Shane Moriarty (Honda Civic) [11]
60 Pat Shorthall/Clifford Perse (Ford Escort MK2) [10]
61 Mick Coffey/Gerry Ryan (Ford Escort MK2) [12]
62 David Forde/TJ O'Brien (Subaru Impreza) [15]
63 Tom Scott/Kate Scott (Citroen Saxo) [11F]
64 Tommy Kelly/Barry Foyle (Honda Civic) [11F]
65 Adrian Cannon/Paddy Mc Crudden (Honda Civic) [11F]
66 Peter Mcdonnell/Neill Quinn (Honda Civic) [11]
67 Anthony Masterson/Tommy Clinton (Ford Escort) [10]
68 Sean Brady/Pauric Murtagh (Honda Civic) [16]
69 Eoghain McMahon/Cathal Nolan (Toyota Corolla) [11F]
70 Barry Mahon/Ultann McGowan (Honda Civic) [2]
71 Shane Healy/Emmet Donton (Peugeot 205) [10]
72 Kevin Flanagan /Emily Hasset (Mini Cooper) [9]
73 Nigel Molloy/James Stafford (Ford Escort MK2) [10]
74 John Kelly/ (Peugeot 106) []
75 Simon Greene/Brendan Greene (Ford Escort MK2) [10]
76 David Smyth/John Rooney (Toyota Corolla) [11R]
77 Ray Kirwan/David Busher (Ford Focus) [11F]
78 Patrick Lawlor/Kevin Rohan (Honda Civic) [16]
79 Martin McKeown/Declan Ryan (Ford Escort) [10]
80 James Bradley /Maria Keohoe (Honda Civic) [16]
81 Patrick Delaney /Stephen Delaney (Talbot Sunbeam) [10]
82 Stephon O'Connor/Mark O'Connor (Toyota Corolla) [14]
83 Donal Crossan/Paul Lennon (Ford Escort) [13]
84 Stephen Brennan/John Kieran (Honda Civic) [2]
85 Martin O'Halloran/TBA (Ford Escort) [11R]
86 Shane Kelly/Ger Comerford (Toyota Corolla) [11R]
87 Richie Dalton/Ger Baett (Honda Civic) [2]
88 Pat Rowan /Brian Rowan (Opel Nova) [10]
89 Stephen Healy /Enda Fallon (Toyota Corolla) [11]
90 Paul Quinlan/Andrew Pursel (Ford Escort) [12]
91 Seamus Heaney/Patrick Hednes (Honda Civic) [16]
92 Brian Cooney/Warren Tighe (Peugeot GTI) [10]
93 Mark Martly/Leona Martly (Talbot Sunbeam) []
94 Dermot Hassett/Niamh Power (Chevrolet Kalos) [9]
95 Kevin McCofferty/Dan O'Donnell (Toyota Corolla) [11]
96 Brian Hassett/Pa Lyons (Toyota Corolla) [11F]
97 Declan O'Regan/Joe Dunne (Peugeot 205 GTI) [10]
98 Brian Ward/TBA (Peugeot 206) []
99 Mark Ashton/Patrick Kelly (Toyota Corolla) [16]
10 Billy Watchorn/James Clynch (Peugeot 106) [6]
101 Martin Dunbarr/Thomas Tutty (Ford Escort Mk1) [10]
102 Sam Johnson/Nigel McGloughry (Honda Civic) [11F]
103 John McGuire/Cormac MCGuire (Ford Escort MK2) [12]
104 Gary McNamee/Breen McNamee (TBA) []
105 Brian Brody/Leonatd Tuit (Peugeot 106) [16]
106 Gary Hade/Luke Hade (Peugeot 206) [16]
107 Tony Lynch/TBA (Peugeot 106) [11]
108 Mark Allen/Emmet O'Duffy (Honda Civic) [11]
109 Richie O'Mahony/Nicole Drought (Ford Escort MK2) [16]
110 Padraig Denton/Robbie Murphy (Honda Civic) [2N]
111 Anthony Keating/T.J O'Connor (Ford Escort) [9]
112 Jack Shealy/Billy Shealy (Toyota Corolla) [16]
113 Colum Browne/Lawrence McGrath (Honda Civic) [2]
114 David Donohoe/Jamie Comer (TBA) [2]
115 Eoin Kenny/Eamon Horan (Austin Mini) [9]
Posted: October 1, 2014 2:03 PM
Twelve months on from his debut victory in the Germaines of Baltinglass Mini Stages Rally, Monaghan driver, Richard Moffett, will be among the contenders for honours in the 2014 edition of the popular Garda Siochana Motor Club event, which takes place on Sunday, October 19th. He will be joined among the entrants by another former victor, James Stafford, whose Baltinglass success came ten years ago, while local man, Dan Barry, twice a winner in the past, has also expressed an intention to take part. Also joining the fray will be Terence ‘Ted’ O’Shaughnessy, twice a runner up on the GSMC Mini Stages, who returns to competition following a sabbatical.
For Moffett, the Baltinglass Rally comes at a time he has plenty of ‘match practice’, having taken two-wheel drive honours, and sixth overall, on the National Championship counting Clare Rally last month. His co-driver for the GSMC event will be Martin Connolly, who guided him to success in 2013, and they will once again campaign the two litre Toyota Starlet which took them to victory last year.
The pace of Stafford, in his Darrian T90 GTR, is without question, as demonstrated by the Wellington Bridge driver’s win on the two-day Wexford Rally last year, and his second place results on the Birr and Tipperary Stonethrowers rallies this year. Baltinglass has brought him mixed results however - his win in 2004 was followed by a final stage accident, while holding the lead, in 2005. His co-driver this time out will be Frank Dwyer.
Enniskerry’s Dan Barry, winner in Baltinglass in 2009 and 2011, has informed the organisers of his desire to return to the event, but has yet to formally lodge an entry. The Mitsubishi Lancer driver can be relied upon to be in the hunt for overall honours, if he makes the start.
The GSMC event sees the return to action of Terence ‘Ted’ O’Shaughnessy from Carlow, who has twice finished second in Baltinglass. His more recent results came at the wheel of a 2.5 litre Toyota Corolla Twin Cam, but on this occasion, he will pilot a 1.6 version, which will likely confine his attentions to class honours. Nevertheless, his efforts will be spectacular, and much appreciated by the spectators.
The Germaines of Baltinglass Mini Stages Rally 2014 will be the sixth and final round of the LoughranSigns.com Midlands East Rally Championship, which is currently being led by Rodney White (Class 13 Talbot Sunbeam) on 71 points, followed by James Cassidy (Class 12 Ford Escort) on 69 points, and Pat Shorthall (Class 10 Ford Escort) on 60 points.
While Germaine’s Hotel in Baltinglass, Co. Wicklow will as always provide the venue for the rally headquarters, the competitive action will for the first time take place over the border in Co. Kildare, where two stages have been set out by the event’s new Clerk of the Course, Derek Brannigan, himself a vastly experienced co-driver. These tests will run three times, the rally route adopting the now familiar 2 X 3 Mini Stages format. There will be 96 stage kilometres and approximately 80 road kilometres.
Entries remain available for the Garda Siochana Motor Club Rally, details on Regulations and Entry Forms below: